MAN WITH 41 PREVIOUS CONVICTIONS FOR 116 OFFENCES PUNCHED AND KICKED A TAXI

A man with 41 previous convictions for 116 offences has been given another chance after kicking and punching a taxi in a fare dispute.

Mark McVey, 45, of Mallard Close, Chedgrave, pleaded guilty to criminal damage when he appeared in Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (October 30).

Prosecutor Victoria Bastock told the court McVey had hailed a taxi on April 4 at around 1am to go to Acle, and he and the driver agreed on a fare of £30.

But on arrival at Acle, McVey began to shout at the driver stating he had paid too much, before punching the Perspex glass screen and kicking the taxi door.

McVey was interviewed by police where he admitted he had been drinking for the first time in months. He told police he had agreed a £25 fare with the taxi driver, but after handing him money he expected change to which the driver refused.

He admitted he had been angry and initially denied being responsible for damage to the outside of the taxi, but after samples of his blood were found on the door he said he could not remember what happened.

Ms Bastock said McVey had 41 convictions for 116 offences, with his last appearance before the court in 2015 for possession of a Class B drug.

Alistair Taunton, mitigating for McVey, said the defendant had not committed an offence for three years, adding: “There’s been nothing for some period of time, this shows he is trying to turn his life around.”

Chairman of the bench Stan Chapman told McVey to “keep on the straight and narrow” before handing him a one-year conditional discharge.

He was ordered to pay £723.23 for the damage to the taxi and to pay £20 victim surcharge.